The Wonders Of God's Help Ii by Rev. Sam Oye: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

The Life of Uzziah: What God's Help Looks Like

2 Chronicles 26:1-15 gives us the remarkable story of Uzziah, who became king at the age of 16 and ruled for 52 years. The Bible says God helped him.

What did that help look like? He built towers in the desert. He dug wells for his livestock in the lowland and the plains. He had farmers and vine dressers. He had an army of 307,500 fighting men. His fame spread far and he was marvelously helped until he was strong.

But note this: the army of 307,500 men is described as those who "made war with mighty power to help the king." The verse before says God helped him. God's help and human help coexist. God does not remove the human element when he decides to help you.

What Every Human Being Needs to Accept

God's help often comes through people. This requires accepting certain realities about human nature and about yourself.

• All human beings are knowledge-limited. Job 38:36 asks: "Do you know the limits of God's understanding?" You do not. None of us do. The more we follow him, the more we know. The richness of your life will be determined by the knowledge you embrace through others. The contribution of others is why your life will become very rich.
• All human beings are emotionally vulnerable. Elijah heard only that Jezebel wanted to kill him, and this man who called down fire from heaven ran and asked God to take his life. If someone that powerful could be brought low by a word, no one is immune to emotional vulnerability.
• You are not good at everything. Be excellent at one thing. Know what you are good at. Let men know you for something you are exceptionally good at. John the Baptist said, "I am a voice in the wilderness." He was branded. Be branded this year.

The Exchange That Sustains You

The joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). When you are in his presence, you receive joy, and that joy becomes strength.

This is why prayer matters beyond ritual. In his presence, whatever you lack is supplied. Jesus, even as the Son of God, rose a great while before day, went to a quiet place, and prayed. He understood the importance of exchanging weakness for strength. If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God. The place of exchange is the place of prayer.

Help Comes Through the Unexpected

Who God will use to help you may be someone you do not like. Who God will use may be someone who does not believe what you believe. The worst of human beings may turn out to be the one God uses to bring the best into your life.

Your world is as narrow as your view of friendship. Open up your space. Increase the latitude of your mind. When it comes to receiving help, expect it from anybody.

Think of what would have happened if David had passed by that Egyptian servant in the wilderness without stopping. The man was famished and abandoned. David stopped, cared for him, fed him, and then asked: "Who are you?" It was a dangerous question to ignore. The man turned out to be the servant of an Amalekite who knew exactly where the enemy was camped. He became the key to the entire recovery.

How many keys have you walked past because the door did not look like what you expected?

The Danger of Pride in Success

Uzziah was marvelously helped until he was strong. Then, when he was strong, his heart was lifted up and he trespassed. He went into the temple to burn incense, an act reserved for the priests. When the priests confronted him, he became furious. And in his fury, leprosy broke out on his forehead.

Success without humility becomes the seed of destruction. The very thing God gave Uzziah became the occasion for his fall, because he confused the gift for the right to do whatever he wanted.

The lesson is not to stop seeking success. The lesson is to remain in the posture that brought the help. Uzziah began by seeking God. He stopped seeking God. The moment he stopped, the help stopped. And the strength he had built became the platform for his pride.